Work-Related Issues

Work-related stress is a feeling you may experience when you have demands at work that you feel you cannot keep up with. It may worsen existing mental health conditions or lead to the development of one if it goes on for a long period of time without being dealt with effectively.

According to Bupa (no date), over 11 million working days are lost every year due to work-related stress. Nearly half a million people in the UK have work-related stress at a level that makes them feel ill.

An illustration of a person sitting on the floor and working on a laptop with a backdrop of a night sky through the windows behind them

Usually, work is a good thing for us as it gives life structure and most people gain satisfaction from working and meeting their goals. Pressure at work can be beneficial if it helps you to perform better and helps to motivate you through challenging times. However, if the pressure lasts too long at a high level, combined with increasing demands, you may start experiencing work-related stress.

Examples of causes of work-related stress include:

an excessive workload or unrealistic deadlines
regularly being under pressure to meet targets or deadlines
difficult relationships with colleagues, or bullying at work
management style
a lack of control over the way you do your job
being unclear about your job role and what you’re meant to do
being in the wrong job for your skills, abilities and expectations

Sometimes, like with other causes of stress, there is no single cause of work-related stress.

Smaller things can build up over time or other external factors (not work-related) can influence your work-related stress, such as events going on in your personal life.

The symptoms of work-related stress are more or less the same as that of other causes of stress. However, there are also more specific symptoms that relate to you and your situation in the workplace:

Physical symptoms

feeling tired and that you have no energy
diarrhoea or constipation
stomach ache
aches and pains
feeling sick
headaches
putting on, or losing weight
chest pains or tightness in your chest
losing the desire to have sex

Mental symptoms

feeling that you can’t cope with your workload
finding it hard to concentrate on a piece of work you need to do, and remember things
lacking confidence in your workplace
not feeling motivated or committed to your job
feeling disappointed with yourself at work
being indecisive at work
feeling anxious (for example, you might dread going to work, which happens to us all occasionally but if it’s every day there’s a problem)
feeling more emotional – you might be more tearful or sensitive
feeling irritable, or having a short temper
feeling overwhelmed
mood swings

Behavioural changes

being irritable and snappy
sleeping too much or too little
eating too much or too little
avoiding certain places or people
drinking or smoking more
taking illegal drugs to relax

(Bupa, no date)

References

bupa.co.uk/health-information/mental-health/stress-workplace

Did you know?

On average we spend almost a quarter of our adult life at work. It can give us a sense of purpose, structure and satisfaction and enables us to finance our daily living. Sometimes, however, work can cause stress and frustration and our health and self-esteem suffers.